From heart-warming features about our residents to stories about care awards for our employees and homes, Trust in Care is packed with information about what’s going on across the Trust.

The magazine, which is free to download here, includes stories on:

• How virtual reality reminiscence sessions are helping residents to re-live their past
• The benefits of music therapy and art in action in our homes
• Help on how to choose a care home and advice on how to pay for care

Download Trust in Care winter 2019

The annual awards aim to shine the spotlight on exceptional care workers, teams and organisations that go above and beyond for their service users.

The OSJCT finalists are:

From Hartsholme House

• Karen Dannatt - Caring Together award finalist
• Paula Robinson - Behind the Scenes award finalist
• Paul Dawson - Behind the Scenes award finalist

From Boultham Park House

• Helena Huckle - Residential Care award finalist
• Claire Lees and Rebecca Phipps - Healthy Nutrition award finalists
• Christine Barker - Residential Care Leadership award finalist
• Jo Johnson - Residential Care Leadership award finalist
• Sam Stockwell – Care Trainer award finalist
• Lisa Phipps - Behind the Scenes award finalist
• Karen Beaven - Behind the Scenes award finalist

From Gregory House

• Andrew Saunders - Behind the Scenes award finalist
• Anna Lewkowicz, Karen Jackson and Ruth Sansom - Healthy Nutrition award finalists

Caroline Dunagan, Trust Assistant Operations Director for Lincolnshire, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to have so many Trust employees shortlisted for these awards. It’s a real reflection of how many dedicated, caring and committed employees we have working at our homes across the county. I am so proud of all our finalists and wish them all the very best in the finals.”  

Award winners will be announced at a gala award evening taking place on 27th February 2020 at the County Assembly Rooms, Lincoln.

All are welcome to come along and join with Trust employees, volunteers, residents and their loved ones singing carols and enjoying seasonal refreshments.

The Christmas Singalong is one of many festive initiatives organised by the Trust to help ensure Christmas is a special time for residents.

Here are some of the Christmas Singalong events coming up:

• Monday 9th December at 2pm - Goodson Lodge, Trowbridge
• Tuesday 10th December at 2pm - The Coombs, Coleford
• Tuesday 10th December at 2pm - Grace Care Centre, Thornbury
• Wednesday 11th at 3.45pm - Buckland Court, Amesbury
• Wednesday 11th at 2.30pm - The Lakes Care Centre, South Cerney
• Wednesday 11th at 11am - Gregory House, Grantham
• Wednesday 11th at 2.30pm - Whitefriars, Stamford
• Wednesday 11th at 10.30am - Athelstan House, Malmesbury (10.30am-midday carols with the local primary school and 2-4pm a singalong with entertainer Brian Slade)
• Wednesday 11th at 7pm - Avonbourne Care Centre, Old Sarum
• Friday 13th December at 10.30am - Lake House, Banbury
• Tuesday 17th December at 4pm - Spencer Court, Woodstock
• Thursday 19th December at 6.15pm - Larkrise Care Centre, Banbury

To find out if your local home is holding a Christmas Singalong please contact them – you can find out phone numbers for all our homes here.

All OSJCT homes also run regular events that members of the community are welcome to join in with, including coffee mornings, knit and knatter sessions and fish n chips lunches. Again, please contact your local home to find out what’s going on.

Cheryl, who has been with the Trust for more than 17 years and Home Manager of Hartsholme House in Lincoln since 2012, won The Care Home Registered Manager award at the Great East Midlands Care Awards on Friday 1st November.

These awards are part of the Great British Care Awards, a series of nine regional awards which celebrate excellence across the care sector and pay tribute to those individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

Caroline Dunagan, Trust Assistant Operations Director for Lincolnshire, said: “I am thrilled to bits that Cheryl has received this fantastic recognition. Cheryl is passionate about providing the best care experience for all and has created a home where the whole team strive to ensure that residents can really thrive. She is innovative, flexible and empathetic, and sets incredibly high standards for herself and her team. We are all so proud of Cheryl - she thoroughly deserves this award.”

Judges commented: “Cheryl’s passion really shone through with her dedication to the residents and team members. Person centred care is at the heart of the home and residents are empowered to remain a human being.”

Three Home Managers and two Activities Co-ordinators will be representing the Trust at the Great British Care Awards, which aim to pay tribute to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within their field of work.

The Trust finalists are:

Maggie Coleman, Home Manager of the Chilterns Court, Henley, Oxfordshire - Maggie, who has more than 30 years’ experience of working in the care industry, joined the Trust in 2014 and became Home Manager of Chilterns in 2017. Maggie is passionate about providing quality care, devoted to her residents and a true team leader, always striving to help, support and develop others.

Catriona (Cate) Jones, Home Manager of Henlow Court, Dursley, Gloucestershire - A registered nurse for 32 years, Cate has worked for OSJCT for 14 years, becoming Home Manager last year. With her holistic and compassionate approach Cate works tirelessly for her residents and is committed to person-centred care. As Home Manager she leads by example to inspire confidence in colleagues, clients and families.

Cheryl Gilderdale, Home Manager of Hartsholme House, Lincoln, Lincolnshire - Cheryl has been with the Trust for more than 17 years and manager of Hartsholme since 2012. Cheryl is dedicated to providing the best care experience for all and has championed inclusive strategies to support residents with dementia. Professional, responsive and proactive, Cheryl has been recognised by the CQC as outstanding.

Jeff Denton, Activities Coordinator, Old Station House, Abingdon, Oxfordshire - At OSJCT for ten years, Jeff loves coming up with innovative ideas to ensure his residents lead full and meaningful lives. Highly motivated, Jeff has recruited 20 volunteers to increase the number of events offered as part of his varied programme. Always positive and cheerful, Jeff is incredibly popular with residents.

Jane Mealing, Activities Coordinator, Avonbourne, Old Sarum, Wiltshire - Jane is committed to enriching the quality of residents’ lives and expanding their horizons through a varied programme of inclusive activities. She has also built strong links with the local community, particularly with younger generations. Jane brings drive, energy and passion to her role, always going the extra mile for residents.

Kerry Dearden, Deputy CEO for the Trust, said: “At the Trust we are proud of all our employees and volunteers who support residents to achieve person centred care and outcomes every day. We are thrilled that five of our fantastic colleagues at the Trust have been shortlisted for the Great British Care Awards. Like many of our employees, they are all known for going the extra mile for our residents. I am delighted that their dedication, commitment and hard work has been recognised in this way and I wish them and all the other committed individuals who are a testament to our sector all the best of luck in the awards.”

For more information on the awards please visit: www.care-awards.co.uk

Patsy Just, Assistant Operations Director for Oxfordshire, comments: “As the regional head I am delighted by this recognition and thankful for all the hard work delivered by our colleagues in Oxfordshire to ensure this independently endorsed success across the region. The knowledge that our residents and clients are happy and receiving the best possible care with individual needs being met is a testament to the values and ethos of the Trust and the hard work of all the teams.”

Lucy Holl, Trust Operations Director, comments: “To achieve a 100% ‘Good’ rating in the county of Oxfordshire across a total of 31 homes (includes Extra Care Housing) is an exceptional achievement. It reflects the dedication of our employees to our residents and their work as a cohesive deliverable team, which is led and supported by a strong management side.”

Residents Bill, Betty and Sarah participated which saw them feel the joy of their memories as well as a comforting experience.

Bill was taken back to the Rock n’ Roll era, Betty saw where she started her married life in the house, street and church where she was married, and Sarah visited France where she ran a bed and breakfast with her son and reminisced about her time there.

Betty commented: It’s unreal, really. It just transporting you back and how can you do that when I am sitting here. It’s beautiful.”

Dan Hayes, Chief Executive at OSJCT, comments: “To watch this clip aired by the BBC was so uplifting and to see the joy it brought to our residents. Virtual Reality is such an innovative concept and one which the elderly is not frightened to embrace. We hope to continue to provide our residents with these wonderful opportunities and experiences.”

Please view the following BBC link to see the clip:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-49654052/how-virtual-reality-is-helping-people-with-dementia